Holy Mackerel!

I go to Harry Carey's in the Loop and in Wrigleyville every time I go to a Cubs game so I thought I would try out Holy Mackerel. My wife ordered the Seafood risotto, it was plentiful dish with lobster and shrimp in it. It also had some clams and mussels in the shell served on top. My wife noticed that some of the shells did not open. We eat seafood a lot and we know this sometimes can happen but we never eat the unopened ones for obvious reasons. After picking through them she noticed it wasn't a few that were not open but 5 of the 9 in the dish. I scooped them out and put them on a plate. When the waiter arrived I gave them to him and said ""you know serving these is a no-no right"" he said yes and brought them back to the Chef. He returned about 10 minutes later and said "" the Chef says you can eat those raw and there would be no problem"" Well........... 1) I didn't order them raw I already had a dozen raw oysters for an app. 2) You COOKED them and they didn't OPEN which means they were dead to start with !!! Now you want me to eat them unopened or eat them raw ??? 3) As mentioned this can happen but if you have it happen to 2/3 of the dish and you STILL serve it you have some serious quality control issues. 4) To send a waiter back with that explanation may be the most arrogant thing I have ever heard from a Chef. This however may explain why the restaurant was only a 1/4 full on Sat night at 7:00 !!! I never asked for anything in return, not a new dish, not a drink, not a dessert....nothing.......nor was I offered anything but a lame explanation basically telling me I have no clue about seafood. I tipped my waiter 20% and left. Thanks but no thanks I think i was pretty lucky this time (No ER visit) hope you are too if you visit !!!! NOT GOING BACK HERE !!! Pros: Food So-So Cons: Quality Control more

My girlfriends and I always like to try new places, and my family frequents the Harry Caray's in Rosemont. On one of our visits it came up that they have other concepts, and nearby, point in case-Holy Mackerel! Since Lombard is a convenient meeting place for my friends, we made a reservation. Upon walking in, through the hotel entrance we were greeted by a water wall. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Exactly the fun kind of atmosphere we were looking for. \r Then there is the food! They offered us both the Harry Caray's Menu and the Holy Mackerel menu, which was great for my one friend who isn't a big seafood enthusiast. I of course went straight for the 1 1/2lb Fresh Alaskan King Crab Legs which came with potatoes and corn. They were incredible! Some of the other things we ordered were the Paella, Crab and Gorgonzola Stuffed Flounder and the Blackened Atlantic Salmon Caesar Salad. The Paella was huge, I think that at least 3 people could have shared it. The Flounder was rich and delicious. The Salmon Caesar was outstanding. It had polenta croutons which were warm. The Salmon was flakey and seasoned perfectly and the whole salad was topped with this corn salsa that had jicama in it. Good thing I have friends who like to share. To finish the meal I had the seasonal cobbler, that was full of Apricots and topped with a creamy vanilla ice cream. \r The servers were very knowledgeable, and really helped me choose what to have. This is a huge plus considering I can be indecisive at times.\r We will definitely be visiting Holy Mackerel! again soon, especially since the menu changes everyday and who knows what exciting new dishes we will get to try on our next visit. Pros: atmosphere, delicious food, and friendly staff Cons: That I haven't found it sooner. more

Went on a Friday night with family. Service was very, very good but Food was super average for the prices. Kids menu is very limited with a total of 4 items. Expected more of a menu/vibe of a Shaw's but didn't even come close.\r \r I had the atlantic salmon and it was flavorless and a bit dry. The Rock shrimp potatoes on the side were good but not spectacular. My wife had the Lemon Sole. Again, not bad but very average flavor for someplace that flies in fish daily. My daughter had the ""amish chicken"" which was the most plain small half breast of chicken for $20.00 I've ever seen. The music playing was from the 40's and had no energy in the room. I walked through the Harry Carey's bar to go to the bathroom and wished I had booked a meal in there. Much more lively and interesting. All in all, not a great dining experience and a total bill of $179.00 for a family of four should have left us feeling a lot more satisfied. Will not go back. Will spend my money at a place like Capital Grille or the like in the area. Pros: Service, Valet Cons: Food is average, room is boring and no energy, ambiance is horrible. more